For Beginners

How Big is Your Headlamp?

Fenix LD01 Flashlight

“If you need a headlamp (in the beginning of June), you’ve messed up your trip planning,” said a very experienced hiker I know. Even so, I still carry one in summer because there are many things that you can’t control on a hike that …

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How to Find a Lost Hiker

Where the hell are they?

This is a scenario we all dread: you’re on a group hike and one of the hikers in your group disappears. How can you prevent something like this from happening? What can you do to find them? Prevention Keep your group together …

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The Benefits of Peakbagging

Peakbagging Friends on Northwest Hancock Mountain

A lot of hikers look down at peakbagging as a motivation to get out and hike. I certainly viewed it with suspicion until I learned more about it. I got my first glimpse into the joys of peakbagging when I was hiking …

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What is the Footing Like in the White Mountains?

Above Treeline - From Adams to Madison

I’m co-leading a Backpacking Fundamentals trip in two months with Andrew Skurka, and one of our students contacted me over the weekend for help with his homework. He’s been assigned the Footing section of the Environmental Conditions Assessment we have students collaborate on …

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Practice Hikes by David “AWOL” Miller

David Miller on Mount Katahdin

In 2004 I met a couple thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and asked if they’d taken any practice hikes. The husband said; “We didn’t want to take any practice hikes before our attempt because we were afraid that we might not like hiking.” …

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The Tentative Quilter

Ultralight Camping on the Maine Appalachian Trail

Have you ever used a quilt instead of a sleeping bag on a backpacking trip? I confess, I haven’t. But I took my first tentative  step in that direction on my last backpacking trip. Instead of a quilt, I used the 50 …

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How to Become a Better Hiker

Students in Andrew Skurka's Ultimate Hiker Course, White Mountains

I love day hiking, backpacking, peak bagging, long distance trekking: you name it. Being outdoors and propelling myself on my own two legs gives me tremendous joy…even when it rains. I also derive tremendous satisfaction from learning and using new hiking, backpacking …

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